Metal corner structure and method of making same



Nov. 30, 1943.

E. c. GREMPLER 2,335,754 M METAL CORNER STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 2, 1942 l' U j .A

l 1 J J6 IN VE NTOR.

arab@ rezzzzyler y l Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METALCOYENER STRUCTURE AND METHOD '0F MAKINGSAME Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,222

4 Claims.

This invention relates to metal corner structures adapted to be embodied in various metal constructions, such as steel window sashes, frames, and other constructions in which square corners are desirable. l

In the formation of metal constructions of this general character, it has heretofore been customary to form the corners -by merely .bending the metal bar (usually a T-bar) into the desired shape to Aform the frame. In the bending operation the T-bar web was bent transversely, but the flange was bent edgewise or, in other Words, in the plane of the flange, With'the result that the metal at the outer edge was stretched and produced a round, instead of a square exterior corner, while the metal at the inner edge was compressed and crimped so that it was thicker at this point than elsewhere and Was also projected inwardly, thus forming a round, instead of a square, interior corner. sashes having rounded corners and thickened corners resulting from their method of manufacture have Abeen unsatisfactory, because the sashes would not tightly nt the frames, particularly at the corners, thereby resulting in a considerable leakage oi air between the frames and the sashes.

rIhe primary purpose or my present invention is to provide a metal corner structure which will present square instead of rounded corners, both extericrly and interiorly, and in which the metal will be of uniform thickness and lie in a common plane, instead of being crimped and thickened at the inside corner and stretched and thinned at the outside corner.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a novel method for producing a square corner structure of the character indicated.

A typical corner structure embodying my in- -vention and a method by which the same may be distance;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line ii-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View looking at the face of the ange 0f the bar;

Window frames and .f

- suitable nat-faced dies.

Fig. 6 is `a .sectional View on the .line 6-46 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 .is an elevation showing Athe kdisplacement of one of the flange portions;

Fig. 8 is a View looking at the bottom ofFig; 7,;

Fig. 9 is asection on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8,;

Fig. 10 is an elevation `after the web has been bent;

Fig. l1 is a bottom .viewof Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a View similar to'Fig. 10, butshowing the displaced Aflange portion in restored position;

and

Fig. 13 is a bottom face View of Fig. 12.

In producing a corner structure in accordance with my invention, a metal baris employedcomprising a web and a flange. While bars dii-lering in structure and dimensions from that herein il'-l lustrated may be utilized, ."I have shown herein for illustrative .purposes .a T-:bar comprising a web I5 and a flange I6. .'Ihesfirst step is'to disunite the flange and web .for a limited distance, as illustrated for instance in Figs.'2, 3 and 4. The disuniting operation may be accomplished by the employment of a suitable .tool adapted to .either sever the web :at itsbase from the ange orto rupture it by .displacement along ,the .line I'l of Fig. 2.

In disuniting the web and flange by rupturing, af blunt arcuate tool isem'ployed' which displaces a Vportion `i8 of the web laterally, as indicated in Figs.'3 and4.

The displaced iand disunited rWeb `'portion 1.8 isl then .returned toits original position with respect .to the flange, asV indicated in Fig. 5, by The dies serve to align the displaced portion with the remainder of the web.

The disunited flange portion of the bar is then divided transversely along the line I9 (Fig. 5) approximately the same distance from the adjacent end of the severance ll as that end is from the point at which the web is to be subsequently bent. The flange portion is thus divided into two sections 2l and 22, respectively, whereupon one of said sections, preferably the longer one 2|, is displaced away from the Web, as shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9. The division of the flange and the displacement of one section thereof may be yperformed intwo operations, as, for instance,

and 11, so that its projecting end Where the division between sections 2| and 22 occurred is disposed parallel with the outer edge of flange section 2|, and the free end of flange section 2l is disposed parallel with the inner edge of section 22.

The final step is to restore the displaced flange section 2l to its original position in alignment with the remainder of the flange. The flange in restored position is illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13. When thus restored, the end of flange section 2l abuts against the inner edge of flange I6 and its extending section 22, thus providing a rigid abutment which renders the corner structure strong and inflexible.

The final structure is best illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 1, from which it will be apparent that the flange of the corner structure presents straight-line, non-rounded corners both exteriorly and interiorly, and that the flange is of original and uniform thickness throughout, since it has not been subjected to either tension or compression strains tending to distort the metal during the formation of the corners.

While I have disclosed a preferred structure and method of producing the same, it should be manifest that the character of the bar from which the structure is formed and the order of procedure may vary to meet specific requirements in the ultimate structure Without departing from the essence of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1.`The method of forming a corner from a flanged metal bar having a flange and web, which comprises, severing the web from the flange of the bar for a limited distance in proximity to the prospective corner, dividing the severed portion of the flange along a line into two sections, displacing the free end of one of said sections from the plane of the other section, thereafter bending the severed portion of the web along a line spaced from the line of division of said two sections to position the side edge of one of said flange sections for substantial engagement with the end of the other flange section when said displaced flange section is restored to the plane of the other flange section, and restoring said displaced flange section to the plane of the other flange section.

2. The method of working a metal T-bar having a flange and web to produce a right-angled corner structure presenting square external and internal corners, which comprises, severing the flange from the web for a limited distance, dividing the separated flange portion transversely along a line to provide two abutting flange sections, displacing a first of said sections away from the web and from the plane of the second section, thereafter bending the web at right angles along a line spaced from the line of division of said two sections to position a side edge of one of said flange sections for substantial engagement with the end of the other section and a side edge of the other section in substantial alignment with the end of said one section when said displaced section is returned to the plane of said second flange section, and restoring the displaced flange section to the plane of said second section in abutting relation with said second flange section.

3. A corner structure formed fro-m an integral metal bar, comprising a flat flange and a continuous web projecting from one face thereof, said web being bent to form two connected corner legs, the flange of one leg extending longitudinally thereof beyond the web corner and having its end terminating in alignment with the outer edge of the other leg flange, and said other leg flange having its end terminating in abutting relation with the inner edge of said first leg flange, said web being severed from said flange at the region of the corner.

4. A corner structure consisting of an integral metal T-bar, the continuous web of which is bent to form a right angle corner, the flange of said bar being severed transversely in proximity to the web corner, said web being bent at a point spaced from the point of severance of said flange, the severed end of one portion of the flange being disposed against the side edge of the other flange portion, and the severed end of said other flange portion being disposed in alignment with an edge of said first flange portion to provide square interior and exterior flange corners, said web being severed from said flange at the region of said corner.

EDWARD C. GREMPLER. 

